A Homespun Holiday Gathering with Chateau Hendo + Get The Look

The holidays are in full swing (whether you are ready for them or not) which means MANY a holiday party to throw and MANY a holiday party to attend.  I have twelve on my calendar already. That’s a lot of hostess gifts, folks. As if picking out a gift for a loved one wasn’t hard enough, picking out something to bring to a party you are attending that doesn’t feel totally generic as a small thank you can be even harder. So we partnered with Chateau Souverain to show off their new personalized wine labels (Chateau Hendo!!) and decided that it would be a perfect excuse to “deck the table” and show off the gift that any hostess would love to receive and any host would love to share with their guests.

But before we get into the gifts, let’s start with the table-setting. The holidays mean you get to be a bit more formal on your table but formal doesn’t mean fussy, so we like to keep it simple, homespun, and most importantly, easy to pull together. We wanted something that felt special but not stuffy – and I think we found it on this table.

We started with the table runner, which is a simple texture with a few handmade details like the fringed ends and x-embroidery throughout. On top of it we layered on grocery store eucalyptus. We mixed both silver dollar and seeded flatberry which brings a natural element in and also works with our color palette of blacks, creams, metallics and a pop of deep green and burgundy with the flowers and of course the wine. On top of the runner we layered in a few vintage brass candlesticks that I picked up at an antique store in New York as well as a few store bought black candlesticks (Mixing vintage and new is something that I obviously love to do and something that always makes the table feel more special). Whenever I set the table – and no matter the style – I always try to have at least three visual heights to create interest to the setup. The first would be the runner, the second with the eucalyptus and plates, and the third with the taller candlesticks and wine glasses.

We decided to nix the tablecloth and placement for this setup in favor of the runner. When the party is over just take off the dinnerware and you can still keep the center of the table set to enjoy and use the rest of the month. Win-Win in my book. For the dinnerware, both of the plates are from the new Hearth and Hand Collection as well as the striped napkin that we layered in between to help contrast with the more homespun elements. The wine glass and tumbler we kept modern and simple to contrast with the organic shape of the dinnerware which helps the table feel cohesive yet collected.

To personalize it a little bit more we made these simple place-cards because there is nothing better than getting to a party and feeling special due to the fact that you got your very own reserved seat. For these, we picked up a package of inexpensive glass ornaments, clipped a sprig of eucalyptus to stuff inside and then used wooden gift tags to attach and write the names of the people. So affordable and so easy and it gives the table and the evening that personal touch.

Speaking of personal touches. In case you didn’t notice, take a closer look at those beautiful bottles up there on that table. “Chateau Hendo”. No, Brian and I did not open up a winery in recent months. But our friends at Chateau Souverain have made the wine gifting process a lot more personal with their personalized wine labels. Imagine the look on your host’s face when you present to them a delicious bottle of wine personalized with your (or their) name on it. Talk about a sophisticated and delicious way to say “the Hendersons were here”. And not only does it make a great gift but also makes your dinner parties special when you pour people a glass from your own “private reserve”. Very fancy stuff happening over at Chateau Hendo folks.

Look how satisfied I am with my table and my fancy wine. And they’ve made the process so simple – you just have to head online to order your complimentary personalized label from Chateau Souverain. They send them through in about two weeks, you place them on the wine bottle over the other label and voila, holiday cheer all around.

Over in the living room we setup a bar area for people to grab themselves a drink and a little something to munch on while we wait for our holiday feast to be ready.

But then again with those peonies and a little holiday music on in the background it’s always going to create a very inviting scenario.

Just one more pic before those flowers die and have to sadly be tossed out.

We entertain a ton so after this shoot we had friends over and all of them thought that the personalized wine labels were VERY fun, and a great gift for moms (not sure why, but both my friends said ‘my mom would LOVE this’). As both a hostess and a party-goer I have to say I would be thrilled if someone brought this to a party, not only does it feel special but it is something that feels like you put a bit more thought into it.

If you are into the look we have linked up everything on the table including look-a-likes for the few vintage items we used (pitcher and candlesticks) so you can recreate the look for your next holiday gathering. Including the personalized wine bottles. Happy Early Holidays – from “Chateau Hendo”.

1. Table Runner | 2. Black Candle Holder | 3. Small Brass Candle Holder (similar) | 4. Medium Brass Candle Holder (similar) | 5. Large Brass Candle Holder (similar) | 6. Wine Glass | 7. Tumbler | 8. Dinner Plate | 9. Salad Plate | 10. Vintage Fork Set (similar) | 11. Vintage Spoon Set (similar) | 12. Vintage Knife Set (similar) | 13. Striped Napkins | 14. White Pitcher (similar) | 15. Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon | 16. Chateau Souverain Chardonnay | 17. Wine Opener (similar) | 18. Wood Tray | 19. Clear Ornament | 20. Wooden Tag | 21. Celadon Vase | 22. Pedestal Bowl | 23. Wine Box | 24. Eucalyptus Branch (similar) | 25. Kraft Crinkle-Cut Paper | 26. Dark Grey with Gold Stitch Ribbon